Israeli onslaught on Gaza continues unabated

At least 38 people have been killed and 491 injured as a result of Israeli military activity in 24 hours, the Gaza health ministry said on Saturday.

A further 11 deaths resulting from malnutrition have been reported in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

That brings the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 212, including 98 children.

Most of the deaths from starvation have occurred in recent weeks as Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on aid supplies entering Gaza after partially lifting a total blockade in late May.

Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told Al Jazeera that famine continues to pose a serious risk “especially among children and the elderly”.

“Malnutrition among children leads to decreased immunity and may lead to death,” he said.

Meanwhile, several Arab and Muslim countries on Saturday condemned as a "dangerous escalation" Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City.

Some 20 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, said the plan constituted "a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli... in contravention of international legitimacy".

The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, calling on the international community to push for the entry of more aid into the Strip.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were "an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability".

He went on to urge the "international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip".

Israel has strongly rejected criticism from world leaders after its security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said countries that condemned Israel and threatened sanctions would "not weaken our resolve".

"Our enemies will find us as one strong, united fist that will strike them with great force," he added.

Israel's decision to expand its war in Gaza sparked condemnation from the UN and several countries including the UK, France and Canada, and prompted Germany to halt military exports to Israel.

On the other hand, members of the OIC ministerial committee assigned by the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit on developments have expressed their strong condemnation and categorical rejection of Israel’s announcement of its intention to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip.

“We consider this announcement a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli/ fact on the ground by force, in contravention of international legitimacy,” reads a joint statement issued on Saturday.

The Ministerial Committee is comprises by member countries -- Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in addition to Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Gambia, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.